METHODS AND DIAGNOSTIC KITS UTILIZING MAMMALIAN STRESS PROMOTERS TO DETERMINE TOXICITY OF A COMPOUND

摘要

This invention provides methods and diagnostic kits for identifying andcharacterizing toxic compounds. These methods and diagnostickits measure transcription or translation levels from genes linked to nativeeukaryotic stress promoters, especially those of mammals. Thekits and methods of this invention utilize at least one stress promoter fromeach of the following groups: redox stress, DNA stress, proteinstress and energy/ionic stress. The invention also provides methods anddiagnostic kits for identifying and characterizing compounds thatare toxic to specific organs, such as skin and the eye, as well as for each ofthe individual stresses indicated above. The methods anddiagnostic kits of this invention yield information concerning the action of acompound on a subcellular level. This information may beutilized to design antitoxins to compounds found to be toxic and in activedrug design.